I have to travel from CT to NH tomorrow and obviously need to travel through the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. I have permits for CT and NH, but not Mass.

Am I legally able to transport the weapon through Mass, or not? I tried reading the State Gun laws, but it is hard to decipher.

Thanks,

Mike

November 18th, 2007, 11:18 PM

nasm

As far as I understand it you would need the weapon secured in the trunk. I live in MA, but am not completely familiar with those laws. I'm also not a lawyer or anything so don't take my understanding for gospel.

Take care,

nasm

November 18th, 2007, 11:20 PM

CT-Mike

Well,

I will be driving a Wrangler so there is no trunk. I suppose I could lock it in the console.

November 19th, 2007, 01:10 AM

adambrock

From what I read on Wikipedia, storing the firearms in the trunk is only a preference. Since you don't have a trunk, maybe you could just put it somewhere that would be inaccessible while driving?

One idea would be locking a chain around an already locked box that use two different keys. Keep one on your keyring (in your ignition) and maybe lock the other in the glove box (or tape it to the outside of your car, the door of the fuel tank). I think this could at least show you made a good faith effort to make it difficult to quickly get to the ammo.

Maybe you should consider buying your ammo in New Hampshire? At least then you'd only be traveling with guns and ammo 50% of the time.

\\ACB

November 19th, 2007, 01:40 AM

cuda444

I believe you're covered through the peaceable journey law. Keep your firearms, all of them, unloaded and locked in a case in the back of the Jeep. Keep the ammo out of that case and (to be extra safe) locked in a separate box/bag. I'm an unfortunate resident of the PRM and our laws are just off the wall. Keeping everything locked in a case out of reach should keep you out of trouble. Hope this helps!

November 19th, 2007, 05:59 AM

CT-Mike

Man,

I certainly wish that the national RTC law would leave committee and put to the members for a vote. Feinstein will never let that happen though.

I am heading up and back today to pick up my mother in law for the week. Not worth the hassle to stop at the Mass border and unload, lock, and then reverse the process when I hit the NH border.

Guess I will just go without today :mad:

November 19th, 2007, 08:06 AM

jualdeaux

And here I thought he was planning on transporting an armoury's worth of handguns.

November 19th, 2007, 11:19 AM

friesepferd

Quote:

Originally Posted by jualdeaux

And here I thought he was planning on transporting an armoury's worth of handguns.

ditto:rolleyes:

lock it up in the back where you cant get at it in a case separate from ammo.

November 19th, 2007, 11:20 AM

Pro2A

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasm

I live in MA

I'm sorry :frown:

November 19th, 2007, 07:46 PM

gunthorp

Not being a resident of MA, you and the state "should" be governed by federal code in the matter. All your ammo and weapon can be in the same locked box, but I probably wouldn't even have an empty magazine seated in the mag well. Do not use the glove box or console, even for ammo.

Interstate transportation of firearms
From the US Code TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 § 926A. Release date: 2004-08-06
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

November 20th, 2007, 11:49 AM

DPMS

I live in Mass. Firearms must be unloaded and kept in a locked container. Ammo does not have to be locked up. Don't keep any ammo in the same container as the firearms. If you have a rifle in a locked case, and that case is in your trunk, and you also have a bag with ammo in your trunk, you are good. Same goes if its on the back seat, or any place else it the car. Also the statute says "locked container", so a bag with two zippers with a little pad lock holding the bag shut is legal. I do this with my pistols in a backpack made for laptops. The pistol goes in one compartment that I can lock with a little padlock and the ammo and other gear goes in the other compartments, and I am in compliance in the people's republic.

November 20th, 2007, 01:01 PM

gotammo

Federal law allows you transport a firearm thru any state as long as it is in a locked container and the ammo is separate from the firearm and it is to be used for a lawful purpose at the final destination, it also allows for you to keep the gun in a hotel room for protection as at the time it is your domicile.
Lock the gun in a case and put the ammo in the back of the vehicle, MA wants you to notify the state police that you will be transporting thru their state with desc. of vehicle and other info. which only makes you a target.

November 20th, 2007, 05:02 PM

walvord

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotammo

Lock the gun in a case and put the ammo in the back of the vehicle, MA wants you to notify the state police that you will be transporting thru their state with desc. of vehicle and other info. which only makes you a target.

Unbelievable - another reason not to go to this place. Wonder if they want the color of my shirt & pants for that particular day too. Another place to scratch off for vacation time. :aargh4:

November 20th, 2007, 08:59 PM

Shizzlemah

Without a MA carry permit, gun unloaded and either in a locked case, or case in the trunk.

NOTE that post-1994 highcap mags are forbidden in MA. For example if you have a gun that didn't exist until 1995 or later, it damned well better not have a mag over 10 rounds.

November 20th, 2007, 11:26 PM

LenS

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotammo

MA wants you to notify the state police that you will be transporting thru their state with desc. of vehicle and other info. which only makes you a target.

NOT true at all. MA State Police could care less. NO need (and not advised) to notify even if stopped for a MV violation. BTW, we don't pull people out of cars and demand to search them in MA on a simple MV infraction. [I hope he was intentionally being facetious, but that only confuses the readers.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shizzlemah

NOTE that post-1994 highcap mags are forbidden in MA. For example if you have a gun that didn't exist until 1995 or later, it damned well better not have a mag over 10 rounds.

This is ONLY true if you are staying in MA. FOPA (traveling THRU MA) allows you to transport anything that is legal for you to possess at both ends of your journey, regardless of any state laws to the contrary. e.g. If you are attending a match in MA, NO post 9/13/94 hi-cap mags allowed (nor are so-called AWs as was defined in expired Fed Law).